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Examples Of Individualism In 1984 By George Orwell

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Corruption. Poverty. Terrorism. These are things most people say will cause society to fall apart if they are not contained or suppressed by the government, but in George Orwell’s 1984, none of these problems are a concern of the overbearing government known as the Party; instead, there is only one characteristic--one fatal flaw with the power to tug on that first string and cause the entire Party to unravel: individuality. In the book the character Winston, who is not blinded by the government’s propaganda, purposefully refuses to conform as an act of rebellion. Likewise, the Party fights to hold onto its power by having extra surveillance to keep an eye out for people like Winston or any others who are acting differently because in 1984, …show more content…

The Party’s first action to destroy individualism is by making all the Party members wear the same clothes: a set of overalls. The members of the outside Party, like Winston and others who work for the Party, have even more regulations at work including the two-minutes hate that everyone has to take part in and even their lunch is uniform. “Onto each was dumped swiftly the regulation lunch--a metal pannikin of pinkish-gray stew, a hunk of bread, a cube of cheese, a mug of milkless Victory Coffee, and one saccharine tablet” (49). These measures to keep everything the same in the workplace of Party members shows how much conformity means to the Party. The Party does not only take measures to prevent any type of individuality, they are also constantly on the lookout and are willing to take action if someone shows traits that make them stand out; Winston’s friend, Syme is an example of this. “One of these days, thought Winston… Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks to plainly. The Party does not like such people” (53). Later on, Syme is eventually vaporized, and although there is no clear words saying his is, Winston can see that the Party removed his name from things he was involved in like the chess club, and it is like he never even existed. Just like that the Party can get rid of the little pest in their society that is

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In the novel, “1984,” by George Orwell the main character, Winston is in a country that is in a war, but they’re also under the control of a government that is very strict and controls the lives of its citizens. In the novel it says that the Televisions in everyone house is set to watch and hear everyone’s conversations. I believe that they are just paranoid to the point where they think they are being constantly watched because they are met with propaganda and posters that say, “Big Brother Is Watching.” In the novel the Two Minute Hate group is where people are manipulated and are told to hate a man named Goldstein and all enemies of Big Brother. Two Minute Hate is an example of Groupthink because Groupthink is kind of like peer pressure

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Winston continues to think and speak in the manner of Oldspeak. Therefore Syme wishes to force Winston to contemplate on his language usage. Syme attempts to reason with Winston on why no need for more words should exist. Syme sees no solid reason for the words “good” and “bad”. With Syme’s perspective, simply turning the word into its opposite helps with word reduction and support to the Party.

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Dystopian Showdown: 1984 V. Fahrenheit 451 The novels 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury are both dystopian books. A dystopian society is when it is seemingly perfect but in reality not at all. The main characters in both the books get an eye opener of how their society truly is like.

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During 1984 by George Orwell, the main character, Winston, yearns to remember what life was like before ‘the Party’ took over. However, as the government has brainwashed people and begun to control their minds, Winston finds himself unable to remember or have any proof regarding the truth about the past. In this particular passage, Winston reflects on how the party controls everyone, seemingly hopeless about ever knowing the truth instead of being controlled by the Party. He considers how ‘the Party’ possesses the capability to turn any lie into the truth, just because of the fact that they are the governing force in the society, and they declare how people should think. As people’s minds are what shape our world, when the government controls people’s minds, the government ultimately shapes the world.

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This motivates him to break the rules, even if it could get him caught. Winston hates the rules and principles of the Party and decides not to follow the rules. His rebellion starts small but as he sees he gets away with it more and more, his actions become more risky. When he meets and falls in love with Julia for example. He knows the Party does not allow anyone to be loyal to anyone but the Party.

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419 Words | 2 Pages

In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, Orwell conveys the theme of conformity though his diction, and through his depiction of the “fixing process” employed by the government. After every governmental message in the novel, Big Brother, the leader of Oceania, states the country’s slogan of “War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength.” (Orwell, 16). Orwell’s diction in this slogan is used to essentially list the characteristics of a conformed society, showing that they do not have free thought, are ignorant towards governmental flaws, and believe that what they are doing is for a good cause. As O’Brien is “fixing” Winston, he has Winston to believe that when he is holding up four fingers, “there are five fingers there.”

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One day he will disappear. It is written in his face” (Orwell 53). While free will plays an important role in 1984, fate is an inescapable reality for some in that society. People like Syme (and even Winston) are destined to be caught and vaporized by The Party. This quote also foreshadows Syme’s actual disappearance and therefore expands Winston’s realization because it shows that everyone knows that actions like Syme’s end to a miserable fate.

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Winston’s unconscious destruction has commenced and everything that represents Winston’s hope is being

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Conformity can often be a complicated subject when it’s perceived in relation to individual pursuits and desires. In life, people may frequently experience difficulty when attempting to balance the need to succumb to their desires, and the need to conform to what society deems as acceptable. In George Orwell’s “1984”, the protagonist Winston is used to represent the effects of fear, the influence of others on our decisions, and excessive control over free will is used to convey the inner conflict experienced when a person has to choose between two oppositional ideas; personal desire and conformity. Firstly, it would be fairly logical to make the assumption that a person has free will over their identity and the choices they make, however

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Steeton Wilsonoff Rhian Clark AP English 3 22nd October 2015 SOAPSTONE of 1984 S: George Orwell is the author of this book and has written other works questioning the man in Society of the sorts. The one telling the story within the book, however, is the Outer Party member Winston Smith. We should know this because it will affect how we see the progression of the views on the Party from someone who is controlled by such Party without much say within the Party. O: This story is within a dystopian future (of 1984) where three major countries exist and they live in peace from war “war is peace”.

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One of the most notable themes in 1984 is George Orwell’s depiction of conformity. Conformity means to behave in accordance with socially acceptable conventions. In 1984, the party sets laws and brings in technology that forces the population into conforming. This is done so that they can control the population easier, and manipulate them into believing the party’s ideals. To do this, they firstly make everyone wear the same clothes, eat the same food, and live in the same conditions.

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1446 Words | 6 Pages

Sex creates an extremely exclusive bond between two individuals; it’s an unspoken contract of trust and love. Not only are sexual experiences private, but they also fulfill humanity’s instinctual desire and promote individuality. However, when this intimacy is either erased or condemned by society, individuals lose touch with that vital part of their humanity and individuality. In 1984 by George Orwell, sexuality plays an important role in both Oceania’s totalitarian government and Winston’s rebellion against his oppressors; as he explores his sexuality, Winston revolts against the Party’s manipulative political control, the destruction of individuality, the absence of human connection, and the practice of sexual puritanism.

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234 Words | 1 Pages

The book “1984”, by the British George Orwell shows the dystopic life of all the citizens who live under an oppressive regime, which emphasizes loyalty towards its leader Big Brother. Conversely from the other citizens or characters in the book, Winston (the main character) can think and reason by himself seeing this regime as horrid. Consequently, he thought and acted cautiously to fight against the whole psychological propaganda of the Party (regime) which intended to promote loyalty and compliance from all citizens in Oceania. In the following task, I would like to explore on more detail what makes this fictional regime different from what we are costumed to.

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Within a totalitarian society, the individual is suppressed and is instead morphed into a collective group of loyal followers. Those with power exert control over these followers through means that elicit fear and discourage revolt. In 1984, the common theme of human individuality is explored throughout the entirety of the novel and is highlighted through the aspects of humanity that the Party attempts to eradicate. Specifically through the use of paradoxes, newspeak as a metaphor and foreshadowing, George Orwell examines the consequences of government oppression on personal identity.

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Throughout 1984, Winston is forced to confront a society which rejects the central tenets of humanity and independent thought, and which presides over society through the dissemination of propaganda. Orwell’s novel explores the dangers of totalitarian government and absolute control and is a prophetic tale of power and control that must be heeded in modern times. Totalitarianism is employed to grant absolute power to the Party and ensure the deference of the

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